Entertainment | Minnesota Chamber

Duluth Woman Receives Flowers From Elton John

A woman celebrating her 93rd birthday was surprised by a huge bouquet of flowers delivered to her, and the card said they were from Elton John himself. Rocket Man had just entertained her the night before, where Harriet Schwenk saw her favorite musician perform from the eighth row of the concert.

Years ago, Schwenk babysat the children of a freelance concert promoter who pulled strings to get her a back-stage tour before the world-famous star arrived. David Van Puffelen, the concert promoter, was given permission by Elton John’s assistant to deliver the flowers to the woman. It isn’t clear how Elton John knew of her or that it was her birthday, but he was touched enough by her presence at his concert that he make this kind effort.

The huge bouquet was half as tall as the 4-foot-7 elderly woman, who took it to her church on Sunday to show all her friends. She was the most popular congregation member that day. Her grand daughter attended the concert with her, both of them being avid Elton John fans.

Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947, and he studied music in school growing up. It was no surprise that he began his musical career right upon graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. His first band, formed in 1961, was called Bluesology, and at the time he changed his given moniker to Elton Hercules John, being inspired by sax player Elton Dean and the band’s front man Long John Baldry.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel Tagged With: Elton Dean, Elton John, Royal Academy of Music

Fun at the Mall of America

Bloomington, Minnesota is home to one of the world’s biggest mall complexes in the Mall of America. With over five floors and 500 different stores, the complex is any shopper’s dream. Retail stores and restaurants aren’t all that can be found inside, though. There’s an underground aquarium, a mini golf course, wedding chapel, a full movie theater, and perhaps the mall’s most popular attraction—Nickelodeon Universe.

So, what exactly is Nickelodeon Universe? An indoor amusement park, of course! Formerly known as SnoopyLand, Nickelodeon Universe has a number of different rides for people of all ages, and if you happen to get a hankering for some good ol’ amusement park food, they’ve got that covered, too!

You have a few different options for admission into the park and onto the rides. If you’d like to be able to ride throughout the day, a wristband can be purchased for $29. If you wait until after 5:00 p.m., the band will cost $20 and you can ride the rides all evening. If you’ll only be in the park for a short time, you can purchased packets of ride tickets. Rides tend to use anywhere between three and six tickets, so keep this in mind when deciding between tickets or wristbands.

Rides at Nickelodeon Universe range from Diego’s Rescue Rider and the Nick O Round for smaller children to rides like the Log Chute Water Ride, The Fairly Odd Coaster, the SpongeBob Square Pants Rock Bottom Plunge, and The Avitar Airbender for adolescents and teenagers.

If that isn’t enough, many well known Nickelodeon characters can be found throughout the park. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe, Theme Parks

Minnesota for Free

With the always shifting economy, job layoffs, and the all-around lack of available jobs, many people have begun to cut vacations and weekend getaways from their list of needed items. While you may not be able to visit another state or spend a ton of money, there are still ways to have a vacation and have a good time. The state of Minnesota offers many free activities that can prove fun for every member of the family.

There are various activities to enjoy throughout the summer months. Every Thursday, Nicollet Mall boasts one of the best markets in the state. Everything from locally grown produce and homemade crafts to delicacies from local restaurants is available. Peavy Plaza, which is part of the Mall, is full of beautiful sculptures and is host for many different summer concerts—all free, of course.

Minneapolis is the center of the art scene throughout Minnesota. As such, the city hosts three major art shows each year. The Loring Park Art Festival is one of the largest. If you happen to be in town while this is happening, stop by and take a look at the work from hundreds of local and nationally known artists. You’ll find everything from photography to paintings and sculpture.

If you’re up for a little walking, check out the St. Anthony’s Heritage Trail. Along the trail, you’ll see some of the most historic buildings in the area, including the Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the numerous buildings located on Nicolett Island.

Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nicollet Mall

Visiting the Underwater Adventures Aquarium

The Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, is one of the largest malls in the entire world. It offers something of interest for just about everybody, housing over 500 different retail stores, a wedding chapel, a full movie theater, a challenging miniature golf course, an indoor amusement park, and one of the most popular attractions—the Underwater Adventures Aquarium. This underground aquarium is home to numerous exhibits and is sure to be a hit with everyone in the family, regardless of age.

You’ll see plenty throughout the aquarium, but the very first exhibit after you enter will introduce you to the aquatic life that is native to the state of Minnesota, which includes a variety of fish, snakes, and turtles. You can also read about the lakes and rivers located throughout the state.

The central part of the Underwater Adventures includes a tunnel made entirely of glass. In this exhibit, you’ll be able to see everything from sharks to schools of tropical fish to a variety of stingrays, making for some great photo opportunities. Be aware that the tunnel floor moves you along the glass, so make sure you have solid footing. Other smaller exhibits throughout Underwater Adventures showcase smaller species of tropical marine life, such as crabs, a variety of colorful seahorses, jellyfish, and a rather large octopus.

There are a couple different exhibits aimed at children as well, including a Finding Nemo area where fish from the film are housed. There is also an area called the Pirate’s Treasure Box. Because the aquarium is anything but standard, there’s even a ride to go on if you want to.

Throughout the aquarium, there are various exhibits which allow visitors to touch some of the animals. The species you can touch include crabs, starfish, and stingrays. If you enjoy the aquarium that much, you can tour the entire facility, set up a time to scuba dive, and even book a birthday party.

Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Aquarium, Mall of America, Underwater Adventures Aquarium

The Minnesota State Fair: Highlights

If you’ve never been to Minnesota and are planning to go, plan your trip around the Minnesota State Fair, which is normally held over a week every August. Drawing in thousands of people each year, this enormous event is one of the best ways to learn about and experience the culture in Minnesota. Some of the most popular items at the fair include butter sculptures, Pronto Pups, which are similar to a corn dog, and the log rolling competition, among other things.

Dubbed “The Great Minnesota Get-Together,” the Minnesota State Fair has been providing unique looks into what makes the state so great since 1854 (which is five whole years before Minnesota even became a state). The fair takes place in Falcon heights, which is right in the middle of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and is the second largest state fair in the United States, second only to the Texas State Fair.

Because of the sheer size of the Minnesota State Fair, it’s nearly impossible to see the entire thing in one day. If you’re having troubles deciding what to see, take a look below for some ideas.

The Princess Kay Butter Sculpture: When the winner of the Minnesota Dairy Princess Program Pageant is chosen, “Princess Kay” is the title she gets, but she also has a 90-pound block of butter sculpted to look just like her. This is one of the most popular fair attractions.
The Space Tower: If you’re one who loves scenery, try taking a ride to the top of this 340-foot tall tower for the best views of St. Paul and the Twin Cities. Don’t forget your camera!
The rides at Adventure Park: If you want the standard list of fair rides, you’ll find them on the Midway (and Kidway for the youngsters), but if you’re in the mood for something a little different, stop at Adventure Park. There you’ll find like the Ejection Seat—a ride where you’re strapped into a seat secured with bungee cords and sends you flying through the air.

Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Minnesota, Minnesota State Fair

Finding New Freedom – Coming to Minnesota

Germans came to Minnesota for a wide variety of reasons near the middle to the end of the 19th century. They were seeking freedom from political pressures, freedom to practice religion without persecution and to escape military conscription. The political scene in Germany at this time was extremely unstable, with the constant changes in the government and its policies. This drove many to come to the United States to find land and the opportunity to start a new life, with Minnesota as one of their many destinations. This country had land in abundance and heading west meant new opportunities.

The land that many Germans chose to settle on was already inhabited by a variety of Native American peoples, including the Dakota, Cheyenne, Lakota and Cree tribes. These areas had been annexed by the federal government under treaties which were often broken. This is particularly true in the case of the Dakota land, where broken treaty causd the tribe to rise up and fight back, leading to the United States and Dakota War of 1862. This tribe was later removed from the area and placed at Fort Snelling.

Settlement societies cropped up in the Minnesota territory, advertising to encourage more Germans to come to the United States and celebrating the many advantages they would find when they arrived. This caused a crop of new immigrants, most of which were German. They could buy land within the territory for four costs ranging from $2.50 to $8.00 per acre. Today, the areas they settled in lie in the southern part of the state and includes such towns as Gibbon and Sleepy Eye. They also settled predominantly in the counties of Gibbon, Winona, Nicolett, Benton and Morrison.

Bringing their culture with them along with their families, these German immigrants have left a strong legacy behind for us. Their story is still relevant today, and speaks of the courage and new lives that they fostered in this state.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel Tagged With: Ethnicity, Minnesota, United States

Minnesota’s Weather Challenges

Minnesota offers its residents and visitors a wide variety of weather throughout the year, especially during the winter months. The northern section of the state reaches freezing lows in January, and enjoys a constant layer of snow from December into the midst of March. Temperatures are slightly milder in the southern part of the state during winter, with a high of 25 degrees on most January days. The summers can carry highs in the eighties and lower seventies when you are near Lake Superior.

Minnesota’s weather history has shown extremes in temperature and precipation totals during the winter. One such event is the great snowfall that occurred in St. Paul during the 1880 to 1881 winter season. The event started with a modest 10 inches in late October, ending with a high near 140 inches that lasted from March into early summer. Having eleven feet of snow surrounding your home for that period of time must have been interesting to live with. This was later called “The Great Snow Winter.”

Along with receiving significant amounts of snow, Minnesota also had periods of extreme dryness in its history. This happened in 1829. The event was laid out in records kept at Fort Snelling. The months of May and June received only eight total days of rain the entire time. The summer came in with record heat, and this continued on into the winter, with no snow in sight. Then the temperatures plummetted in February when a series of two week lows hit the state, with numbers as low as – 20 and – 30 degrees.

The weather could also hit extremes on both ends of the scale, with little to no rain in June of 1863 to deadly frosts that attacked crops in July and August. Throughout its history, Minnesota weather has challenged the residents of this state. But it has also helped to build a hardy character into the people who live here.

Filed Under: Climate, Entertainment, Travel Tagged With: Minnesota, National Weather Service, Snow, Temperature, Weather

The Story Behind the Minnesota State Capitol Building

: Image via Wikipedia

The state capitol, located in St. Paul, is the center of Minnesota history. The first meeting held by the legislative body was done in St. Paul in 1849, starting out in a timber built hotel. After a fire in 1881, another structure was built, but the legislature outgrew this one quickly. Finally, in 1893, funds were set aside for a new capitol building, designed by Cass Gilbert. When construction began on the new building, the state itself was a young one, having only been in the Union for 37 years.

The work began on it in 1896, and was finally finished in 1905 for the princely sum of $4.5 million. Gilbert has built many other famous buildings in the United States, including designing the United States Supreme Court building and the Woolworth Building. He brought the same quality and grace to the new Minnesota capitol building. On the outside, the dome is constructed of white marble and granite. The statue atop the dome is made of copper, with a gold leaf exterior. Winding down from the dome is a stairway that is able to support its own weight.

The inside is a myriad of stone, with 20 various kinds used in its construction. Those walking its halls feel an airy space with the high vaulted ceilings. Throughout the structure are numerous beautiful art works and intricate detail in each room. This is due to Gilbert’s personal attention to both the construction of the building and the outfitting of the interior. When finished, it drew positive praise nationwide from numerous architects and artistic types.

It has a total of three floors, housing the Supreme Court, chambers for the House and Senate along with offices for the governor and his or her staff. It still stands today, waiting for visitors to stroll through its halls and enjoy its stunning beauty.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Government, Travel Tagged With: Saint Paul Minnesota, St. Paul

A Romp Through Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park, located in International Falls, Minnesota, is a unique experience for the visitor. In order to fully explore this park, you have travel by water, navigating your way through the parks numerous lakes and islands. While doing so, you may go by either kayak, canoe or motorboat. Early explorers came up through the areas waterways using birch bark canoes, searching for new sources of trade in pelts and furs.

The high time to visit the park is during the warmer months of August and September, giving you a mix of pleasant weather and fewer insects while outside. However, if you love to explore in the wintertime, the park has numerous opportunities for you to enjoy. Within the park, you can snowshoe over trails, cross-country ski and even ice fish. You can always stop by the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, which is open throughout the year. Here, you can rent skis and snowshoeing equipment.

For those who love to learn about nature, various programming is provided to visitors from fall to spring. Spring is the time to get out in your boat and explore, as the waters start to open up from winter’s grip. Summer is the busiest season of the year, and the park has three visitor centers open at this time. During this season, you can take a guided tour by boat through the park, or go on your own by renting a canoe.

Campers can get out under the stars in more than 200 locations within the park boundaries. To reach these sites, you must travel by water. Some sites are available by trail, with a few sites that can be reached with your vehicle. You must have a permit, which is provided free of charge, at one of the park’s visitor centers. With all of the available activities, Voyageurs National Park is a perfect place for diving into the beauty of the great outdoors.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel Tagged With: Big Bend National Park, National Parks Conservation Association, United States, Voyageurs National Park

Getting in Touch With Minnesota’s Native American Heritage

: Image via Wikipedia

Minnesota has a rich Native American heritage, which can be discovered at Pipestone National Monument located in Pipestone. The park is the site of a rich quarry of red pipestone, which was used by local tribes as a medium for carving peace pipes. These items were very precious to the individiuals who had them, for they were held to carry prayers through the smoke up the Great Spirit. The park showcases the process of making these pipes for visitors, giving them a glimpse of the past.

Visitors can see demonstrations of local Native Americans carving the pipes, they work their creations right before your eyes. The pipes are made using traditional techniques, and the carvers will explain the process to you. You can also watch the stone being taken out of the ground. The workers use the same hand tools and techniques from past times.

If you want to explore the park, you can explore the Circle Trail, which is about a thirty to sixty minute walk. The path is paved, starting at the visitor center and circling back around. Along the way, you will see various areas that have been marked as critical to the area’s history. These include quarry sites, Winnewissa Falls and long strolls through tallgrass prairie. In order to use the trail, you have to get a pass from the visitor center. It is open throughout the year, but may close in inclement weather.

There are also sites to have a picnic and just to enjoy the view. The Three Maidens picnicking area is located near the road going up to the visitor center. There are restrooms and plenty of places to eat. Inside the visitor center you can attend a ranger given presentation, visit the many exhibits and watch various demonstrations. Pipestone National Monument is a fascinating and unique place for you to enjoy, and should be on your vacation checklist.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Government, Travel Tagged With: Ethnicity, Great Spirit, Minnesota